Comparison

TouchCounts vs Grid for iPad

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TouchCounts

This app helps children learn fundamental math concepts like counting, addition, and subtraction through interactive finger gestures and visual exploration. It fosters number sense by allowing kids to create and manipulate numbers, building a strong foundation for arithmetic.

Highlights
  • Interactive counting and arithmetic
  • Finger gesture-based learning
  • Develops number sense
  • Explores ordinality and cardinality
  • Supports addition and subtraction
  • Foundations for division and multiplication
Features
Read full description

TouchCounts lets children use their fingers, eyes and ears to learn to count, add and subtract. By tapping and swiping and by using specially-designed gestures for adding and subtracting, children create and manipulate their own numbers, developing a stronger number sense as they explore the mathematical foundations of ordinality, cardinality, and arithmetic. As children begin to learn how to count with their fingers, TouchCounts is the perfect environment to solidify that learning and help them generalize beyond their fingers, “going past ten” into the endless world of larger values. TouchCounts allows children to focus on both ordered and operational views of numbers, inviting them to develop their number sense by creating and exploring coordinated number sequences tactilely, visually, symbolically and verbally. In addition, learners can explore how numeric quantities can be composed from–and decomposed into–other, smaller quantities. Neither a repetitive drill-and-practice worksheet nor an rigid "level-driven" game, TouchCounts is a mathematics exploration environment designed to allow students to discover, pose and examine their own questions and understandings. Sample activities on the TouchCounts website show parents and teachers how TouchCounts can support learners' conceptual understanding of: - number naming - counting and skip-counting - ordinality and cardinality - even and odd numbers - less-than, greater-than and equal-to relationships - subitization - addition, subtraction, and the foundations of division and multiplication. Based on contemporary research understandings of how children learn mathematics, and developed by the Tangible Mathematics Learning Project in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University, TouchCounts is intended for use in school, pre-school and at home; and with small groups, with 1:1 pairings of a learner and a parent or teacher, or individually.

About

Grid for iPad

This app provides a comprehensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for individuals with diverse communication needs. It offers flexible tools, evidence-based resources, and customizable features that adapt as users' needs evolve.

Highlights
  • Evidence-based AAC resources
  • Online community grid sets
  • In-app and remote editing
  • AI-powered design tools
  • Multiple symbol libraries
  • Multilingual support
  • Pre-built communication resources
Features
Read full description

Grid for iPad is a complete Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution designed for people of all ages and communication needs. It offers a range of resources, flexible communication tools, and options that can be adapted over time. Try it FREE for 30 days - voices included! Key features: ► A range of included content for people who need symbol or text based AAC, including Super Core, Voco Chat, and Text Talker ► Suitable for use with touch access or switches. ► Evidence-based symbol AAC vocabularies, created by experienced speech and language therapists and education professionals, with a focus on vocabulary for communicating within everyday routines and activities. ► Includes SymbolStix, PCS and Widgit symbols – choose the symbol library that is most suitable, to match the symbols already being used in the environment, or to support transition from other AAC systems. ► Voices and grid sets for over 20 languages to support communication in a range of languages. Ideal for multilingual families or classrooms. Why families and professionals choose Grid for iPad for children and adults with communication difficulties: ► In-app editing – Fast, intuitive editing makes it easy to add new words, personalise vocabulary, and adapt layouts to the needs of the individual. ► Remote Editing – SLTs, teachers and families can edit any time, without needing the device in their hands. ► Powerful voice technology – Choose from a range of voices, including the latest AI powered multilingual voices from ElevenLabs, or for those who are able to, record your own voice messages. ► AI Powered Tools - Make use of optional tools to correct typing errors, or support the user to change the tone or wording of their message. ► Talk to your Smart Speaker – Use Grid for iPad to speak instructions to smart home devices, request music, hear the latest news and weather, play games and ask questions. ► Online Grids – Do even more with Grid for iPad by searching and downloading FREE ready-made grid sets created by clinicians, educators, and the Grid community. What’s included: ► Super Core - Evidence-based core vocabulary focused on communication within everyday routines and activities. Designed for supporting AAC learners from single words to building full sentences. Available in 30‑cell and 50‑cell sizes, with simpler 12 and 20 cell learning grids for those just starting out. ►Voco Chat – Designed to enable users to communicate for a wide range of reasons, with supported message pathways and carefully chosen vocabulary, for fast and efficient symbol communication. ► Alpha Core - Offers a range of text-based layouts to support the communication of people with changing physical abilities, with quick access to predictive text and common phrases, alongside a keyboard of your choice. ► Text Talker - Enabling people to say what they want to say in the moment, or prepare and save messages in advance for faster conversations. ►Aphasia Duo - Designed specifically for people with aphasia and their communication partners to support participation in everyday life, including a range of word-finding and conversational supports, and whiteboard for writing and drawing. ► PODD (in-app purchase) - Created by Australian Speech Pathologist Gayle Porter, PODD organises language according to the reason for communication, designed to support spontaneous communication in any situation. ► And MUCH more - Grid for iPad also includes a range of interactive learning activities (just try Dilbert the Dog!), animated communication from Symoji, and educational resources. Simple, flexible pricing: Grid for iPad is available through a monthly subscription with a 30-day FREE trial or as a one-off purchase. You can cancel your subscription at any time. Contact our tech support experts any time at support@thinksmartbox.com For more details on our evidence-based vocabularies, visit the Smartbox Hub.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TouchCounts at 4.4 against Grid for iPad's 3.6. TouchCounts also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Grid for iPad's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 61 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Grid for iPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. TouchCounts asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TouchCounts holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of TouchCounts's written reviews are positive against 50% of Grid for iPad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TouchCounts ships an update every 61 months, Grid for iPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
TouchCounts versus Grid for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTouchCountsGrid for iPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better3.6 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings918 — better
Update frequencyEvery 61 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB1.4 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNathalie SinclairSmartbox Assistive Technology

Customer experience

TouchCounts

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

Grid for iPad

All ratings18 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

TouchCounts

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Grid for iPad

Subscriptions1
  • Grid for iPad Subscription1 Month trial$10.991 Month
One-time3
  • Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
  • PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
  • Grid for iPad full licence$299.99

Questions

Is TouchCounts free?
TouchCounts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Grid for iPad free?
Grid for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TouchCounts or Grid for iPad?
TouchCounts is rated higher. TouchCounts averages 4.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Grid for iPad averages 3.6 from 18 ratings.
Do TouchCounts or Grid for iPad have ads?
Neither TouchCounts nor Grid for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TouchCounts or Grid for iPad?
TouchCounts ships an update every 61 months, and Grid for iPad fortnightly. Most recently, TouchCounts was updated on October 2, 2026 and Grid for iPad on October 1, 2026.

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